Thatcher-Quillen, Bieniek To Vye For County Circuit Court Judge

Current Circuit Court Referee Enjoys Key Primary Win Tuesday

by Travis Curry

SEW Editor

Lori Thatcher-Quillen (D) Veteran circuit court referee Lori Thatcher-Quillen came out on top in Tuesday’s Democratic race for Owen County Circuit Court Judge, a position held since 1983 by the Honorable Frank M. Nardi.

Thatcher-Quillen garnered over 67 percent of the day’s Democratic votes – 1,026 to David Gohn’s 500.

She will face Republican challenger Scott Bieniek in the November general election.

A life-long resident of Owen County, Thatcher-Quillen is a graduate of Owen Valley High School. Following graduation from Indiana State University, she obtained her law degree from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. She returned home to Owen County to become the first female attorney to begin a law practice in the county.

Thatcher-Quillen left private practice in 1996 to serve as an Owen County Deputy Prosecutor. She served under former Owen County Prosecutor Allan Fountain for seven years, handling various types of criminal cases. In 2003, she was asked by Judge Nardi to serve as referee for the circuit court.

Scott Bieniek (R) “I look forward to moving forward with my campaign,” Thatcher Quillen said shortly after Tuesday’s final results were read at the Owen County Democratic Headquarters. “I want to thank all the Owen County voters for all of the support they have given me. I look forward to the general election and the continued support of the people of Owen County... it’s going to be a good race.”

Although unopposed, Bieniek received 1,832 votes Tuesday.

“I’m looking forward to the general election and getting out to meet voters around the county to share my message,” Bieniek said when interviewed Tuesday night at Owen County Republican Headquarters. “I think people will see me out a little more door-to-door. It’s important to meet people faceto face and have the opportunity to introduce yourself.”

Bieniek, who moved to Owen County in August 2009, practices law in Greencastle, where he focuses primarily on family and criminal law. Last year, he served as a senior advisor and the lead attorney for Herman Cain’s presidential campaign.